How might the Milwaukee Brewers' 2023 opening day roster shape up? Here's an early look.

With spring training a little more than halfway over and opening day at Wrigley Field only three weeks away, the Milwaukee Brewers roster is yet to truly take shape.

Six players were reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, but none were expected to break camp with the major-league team.

Right-hander Jason Alexander (shoulder), left-hander Aaron Ashby (shoulder) and outfielder Tyrone Taylor (elbow) have been sidelined with injuries. Alexander is already on the 60-day injured list and Ashby and Taylor both are looking at missing the first month of the season.

As far as position battles, Milwaukee’s bullpen features a number of new faces and several open spots. The infield picture is also somewhat blurry aside from first base and shortstop with a five multi-position players jockeying for what appear to be only two open slots.

Teams have less roster flexibility than last year, when the late start to camp caused by the lockout allowed for an additional two players. Things are now back to normal, meaning a return to 26-man rosters.

Here’s a position-by-position analysis of where things stand.

Starting rotation (5)

RHP Corbin Burnes, RHP Brandon Woodruff, RHP Freddy Peralta, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Wade Miley

The top four spots were locked in before camp began, with Burnes in line to make his second consecutive opening-day start.

Ashby’s injury knocked him out of the competition for the fifth spot, making it a two-man competition this spring between Miley and Adrian Houser. Considering Miley has pitched in relief just seven times in his 292 major-league appearances, the Brewers are likely to lean toward the 36-year-old Miley with Houser waiting in the wings.

Bullpen (8)

RHP Devin Williams, RHP Matt Bush, RHP Adrian Houser, RHP Javy Guerra, LHP Hoby Milner, RHP Joel Payamps, RHP Peter Strzelecki, RHP Bryse Wilson

Milwaukee at least has the most important chair filled with Williams, who is coming off his best full season as a professional. Bush slots in as the primary setup man, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see Strzelecki receive some opportunities again in high-leverage situations considering the success he had last year.

Beyond that the picture is muddier. Milner can be penciled in as the lone lefty whose role might expand some. Houser, Guerra, Payamps and Wilson are all out of minor-league options, limiting the Brewers’ potential moves and leaving those with options such as right-handers Jake Cousins, Janson Junk, Tyson Miller, Elvis Peguero and Cam Robinson ticketed for Class AAA Nashville barring any late-camp surprises.

Underscoring the amount of turnover, in this alignment only Williams and Milner would return from the 2022 opening-day bullpen. Rule 5 pick Gus Varland hasn’t pitched above Class AA but has a good arm and potential at 26 years of age. If the right-hander isn’t kept on the 26-man roster he must be offered back to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It wouldn’t be the least bit shocking to see the Brewers add an arm once teams cut down to the roster limit heading into opening day. Left-hander Justin Wilson was signed early in camp, but he’s out until July while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Catchers (2)

William Contreras, Victor Caratini

The Brewers filled their largest hole with the offseason acquisition of Contreras, who might double his previous career high of 60 starts behind the plate. Caratini is the perfect backup as a studious switch-hitter who calls a good game and can pop the occasional long ball.

Payton Henry, Alex Jackson and Brian Navarreto all have major-league experience beyond the top two, with Henry probably the first to be recalled in the event of an injury.

Infielders (7)

1B Rowdy Tellez, INF Abraham Toro, SS Willy Adames, 3B Brian Anderson, INF Luis Urías, INF Mike Brosseau, 1B Luke Voit

Tellez is coming off a career year, but the Brewers added another veteran in Voit who can start at first base against lefties. He’s in camp on a minor-league deal but his track record as a power hitter and run producer makes him a likely bet to survive the final cut.

Adames is the clear-cut starter at shortstop, with Urías his backup. Second and third base are up the air with Taylor out with a sprained right elbow. That means Anderson – who would have otherwise seen a decent amount of action at third base – will likely play more than originally expected in right field. That could leave Urías to play more third than second until Taylor returns.

It will be a tough call between Toro and Owen Miller; Toro’s ability to switch-hit is his strength while Miller provides more defensive flexibility. Both can be optioned to the minors as can Brosseau, but manager Craig Counsell loves Brosseau’s offensive capabilities.

Notably absent in the final iteration is Keston Hiura, whose prospects to make the team dropped with the additions of Voit and Tyler Naquin. Prospect Brice Turang can play all over the infield but with so much veteran depth his major-league debut will have to wait a little longer.

Outfielders (3)

LF Christian Yelich, CF Garrett Mitchell, RF Tyler Naquin

With Taylor sidelined, Mitchell is in line to be the everyday starter in center, although the Brewers are probably on the lookout for someone who can back up there for the time being – preferably a right-handed hitter.

Mitchell is an exciting player to say the least, but his strikeout totals might be a concern.

Anderson and Naquin should form a righty-lefty platoon in right until Taylor returns, with Naquin earning his way on after signing a minor-league deal.

Jesse Winker can also be added to the mix once he’s deemed all the way back from his offseason neck surgery, although defensive limitations make left field the best fit for him.

Prospects Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer, lacking overall experience, will almost assuredly begin the season at Class AAA Nashville with an eye on getting them more at-bats.

Designated hitter (1)

Jesse Winker

It makes sense to use this spot to ease Winker back into things. Winker has mashed right-handed pitching over the course of his career (.288 average, .885 OPS) and he has also done well hitting in Milwaukee (.322 average, 13 homers, 1.013 OPS in 60 games). The hope is he’ll have a bounce back season and provide more consistent punch than last year’s primary DH, Andrew McCutchen.

Contreras, Voit and Yelich will also see some time here. And if Hiura does make the final cut, he’d also see time at DH.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What will MIlwaukee Brewers' opening day roster look like in 2023?